Anyone thinking about selling? (E46 M3)

[pti]

Afternoon all,

I'm currently in the market (and have been for quite some time) for an E46 - there's an awful lot of rubbish out there!

Tiny violins at the ready:

A couple of weeks ago I thought I had found my perfect car. A fantastic amount of work had been done to a very high standard (Redish subframe reinforcement, recent brakes, good tyres, inspection 2, all manner of gaskets and minor things taken care of). I was very confident that I was going to have it without seeing it. Sadly, so was someone else.

I was the first to enquire (hours after the ad was posted on a Thursday) and booked a viewing at the owners earliest convenience (Saturday morning). Cue a phone call on Friday morning saying someone had paid a deposit over the phone and would collect the next day. A ballsy move from the buyer and a natural reaction from the seller. I was offered first refusal if the sale fell through - needless to say, it didn't

So this post is really a plea to anyone who is considering getting rid of their M. Before you place an ad I'd like to hear about it! I don't really have reservations about spec and am much more concerned with maintenance. The gearbox choice is something I am indifferent to (with the below condition).

Subframe reinforcement/replacement is high on my list, as is a replacement SMG pump if the car isn't a manual. Full service history following the set pattern (it's amazing how many fail to follow this) is also a must. Quality tyres all round as it shows the owners attitude towards the car IMO.

I would prefer a sub 100k car but as always, condition comes first and my budget is flexible dependant on what's on offer.

Thanks all

ETA - After having been offered a couple of cars that are truly fantastic but outside of my current budget I feel I should state an absolute maximum of £11k to avoid wasting anyone's time.

Edited by pti on Saturday 31st January 14:47

Edited by pti on Saturday 31st January 14:47

[jayemm89]

Can't help you here but good luck.

I know how frustrating it is as a seller with a good 'un trying to sell one, so many at 6/7k and a lot of buyers don't realise the difference.

Fortunately they're a common car so I'm sure you'll find one...

[pti]

jayemm89 said:

Can't help you here but good luck.

I know how frustrating it is as a seller with a good 'un trying to sell one, so many at 6/7k and a lot of buyers don't realise the difference.

Fortunately they're a common car so I'm sure you'll find one...

Cheers mate

[hughcam]

I may have my Individual Techno Violet, Manual, OEM 19's, Coupe up for sale in the next couple of weeks. Inspection 2 done less than a thousand miles ago along with OEM pads and discs. Its going into the specialist on the 02/02/2015 to have the dreaded subframe repair done with Redish plates along with powerflex bushes all round and a geo.

Its on 112,000 miles and in very good (but not mint/immaculate) condition for the year. Car is listed as a CAT D on V Car for a claim in August 2010 but the damage was very minor and there is no evidence of damage around/inside/underneath the car following repair.

I will be looking for £7,000 ONO so PM if interested.

[pti]

hughcam said:

I may have my Individual Techno Violet, Manual, OEM 19's, Coupe up for sale in the next couple of weeks. Inspection 2 done less than a thousand miles ago along with OEM pads and discs. Its going into the specialist on the 02/02/2015 to have the dreaded subframe repair done with Redish plates along with powerflex bushes all round and a geo.

Its on 112,000 miles and in very good (but not mint/immaculate) condition for the year. Car is listed as a CAT D on V Car for a claim in August 2010 but the damage was very minor and there is no evidence of damage around/inside/underneath the car following repair.

I will be looking for £7,000 ONO so PM if interested.

PM'd

[pidsy]

hughcam said:

I may have my Individual Techno Violet, Manual, OEM 19's, Coupe up for sale in the next couple of weeks. Inspection 2 done less than a thousand miles ago along with OEM pads and discs. Its going into the specialist on the 02/02/2015 to have the dreaded subframe repair done with Redish plates along with powerflex bushes all round and a geo.

Its on 112,000 miles and in very good (but not mint/immaculate) condition for the year. Car is listed as a CAT D on V Car for a claim in August 2010 but the damage was very minor and there is no evidence of damage around/inside/underneath the car following repair.

I will be looking for £7,000 ONO so PM if interested.

a fellow techno violet coupe owner!

[Craigwww]

If you haven't already, get yourself into M3 cutters forum and have a look at members cars on there. Also post in the wanted section and I'm sure you'll have the car you want soon enough.

[Jim1556]

hughcam said:

Its going into the specialist on the 02/02/2015 to have the dreaded subframe repair done with Redish plates along with powerflex bushes all round and a geo.

Where are you having the work done?

I've only just got mine, it's having a health check in Feb and even if not cracked, I will probably future proof it by having the Redish plates/resin injection done.

But, as I'm near Selby, I'm loath to drive all the way to Bristol (as much as I know they're the best in the business)...

[pti]

Craigwww said:

If you haven't already, get yourself into M3 cutters forum and have a look at members cars on there. Also post in the wanted section and I'm sure you'll have the car you want soon enough.

Cheers chap, already on cutters but have just posted a wanted ad on there as well. The one that got away was sold though cutters so I'm constantly monitoring the for sale section. If I'd have thought about doing this a few weeks ago....

Edited by pti on Thursday 29th January 18:16

[Babw]

I'm planning to sell mine soon as looking to get a GTR.

2005 Silver Grey 59K miles, I'm the second owner and have owned for 4 years. Bought from BMW and ran through their warranty scheme. Kept in a heated garage and winter stored.

Pretty much full BMWSH apart from an oil service done at an indy prior to me purchasing.

It has SMG, HK, sunroof, bluetooth, folding mirrors, nav, tv, lumbar + side bolster adjustment, black nappa leather, rear side airbags, 19" wheels and front centre arm rest. I think that's everything!

In the first year I was using it regularly and covered 8k miles, I really missed heated seats so when I was in Germany I sourced some new front matching seats which were heated and had them fitted. (I still have the old seats in the garage.)

For the past 3 years it's done a paltry 400 miles per year so selling as the GTR will provide a step up in performance from the other cars we have.

RTAB with a limiter kit, front control arms and bushes, SMG gear position sensor fitted a couple of thousand miles ago and subframe checked, no sign of corrosion never mind cracking but had both sides resin reinforced for peace of mind. I was always in the camp of preventing major welding is better than the possibility of having a bad job/corrosion/poor alignment afterwards.

Got it out of storage for the purpose of getting it ready to be sold yesterday, flew through it's MOT.

I haven't even though what I'd sell it for but if you're interested give me a message.

[pti]

Babw said:

I'm planning to sell mine soon as looking to get a GTR.

2005 Silver Grey 59K miles, I'm the second owner and have owned for 4 years. Bought from BMW and ran through their warranty scheme. Kept in a heated garage and winter stored.

Pretty much full BMWSH apart from an oil service done at an indy prior to me purchasing.

It has SMG, HK, sunroof, bluetooth, folding mirrors, nav, tv, lumbar + side bolster adjustment, black nappa leather, rear side airbags, 19" wheels and front centre arm rest. I think that's everything!

In the first year I was using it regularly and covered 8k miles, I really missed heated seats so when I was in Germany I sourced some new front matching seats which were heated and had them fitted. (I still have the old seats in the garage.)

For the past 3 years it's done a paltry 400 miles per year so selling as the GTR will provide a step up in performance from the other cars we have.

RTAB with a limiter kit, front control arms and bushes, SMG gear position sensor fitted a couple of thousand miles ago and subframe checked, no sign of corrosion never mind cracking but had both sides resin reinforced for peace of mind. I was always in the camp of preventing major welding is better than the possibility of having a bad job/corrosion/poor alignment afterwards.

Got it out of storage for the purpose of getting it ready to be sold yesterday, flew through it's MOT.

I haven't even though what I'd sell it for but if you're interested give me a message.

PM'd

[KrisP]

pti said:

Afternoon all,

I'm currently in the market (and have been for quite some time) for an E46 - there's an awful lot of rubbish out there!

Tiny violins at the ready:

A couple of weeks ago I thought I had found my perfect car. A fantastic amount of work had been done to a very high standard (Redish subframe reinforcement, recent brakes, good tyres, inspection 2, all manner of gaskets and minor things taken care of). I was very confident that I was going to have it without seeing it. Sadly, so was someone else.

I was the first to enquire (hours after the ad was posted on a Thursday) and booked a viewing at the owners earliest convenience (Saturday morning). Cue a phone call on Friday morning saying someone had paid a deposit over the phone and would collect the next day. A ballsy move from the buyer and a natural reaction from the seller. I was offered first refusal if the sale fell through - needless to say, it didn't

So this post is really a plea to anyone who is considering getting rid of their M. Before you place an ad I'd like to hear about it! I don't really have reservations about spec and am much more concerned with maintenance. The gearbox choice is something I am indifferent to (with the below condition).

Subframe reinforcement/replacement is high on my list, as is a replacement SMG pump if the car isn't a manual. Full service history following the set pattern (it's amazing how many fail to follow this) is also a must. Quality tyres all round as it shows the owners attitude towards the car IMO.

I would prefer a sub 100k car but as always, condition comes first and my budget is flexible dependant on what's on offer.

Thanks all

There are cars out there that haven't had any subframe repair work or replacement, and neither do they show signs of needing so - I sold my 55 plate car just before Xmas, in that condition, even at 80k miles, it wasn't showing any signs, gues it depends on how they are treated, and IMO, what box is fitted. The smg being more brutal must be putting more shock loads through

[pti]

KrisP said:

There are cars out there that haven't had any subframe repair work or replacement, and neither do they show signs of needing so - I sold my 55 plate car just before Xmas, in that condition, even at 80k miles, it wasn't showing any signs, gues it depends on how they are treated, and IMO, what box is fitted. The smg being more brutal must be putting more shock loads through

Whilst I appreciate that, it's a very well documented fault on these cars and - along with the SMG pump - probably the single most expensive thing to fix. Driving style definitely plays a part but these cars were built to be driven, all but the latest are 10+ years old and each has had a number of owners now so being able to gauge how hard a life they've had (in terms of being driven) is tough.

I take your point though chap and whilst it's not a set-in-stone requirement, it's very desirable from my point of view

[Baz Tench]

KrisP said:

There are cars out there that haven't had any subframe repair work or replacement, and neither do they show signs of needing so - I sold my 55 plate car just before Xmas, in that condition, even at 80k miles, it wasn't showing any signs, gues it depends on how they are treated, and IMO, what box is fitted. The smg being more brutal must be putting more shock loads through

Same here with 137000 under its wheels (manual though).

[M3CS]

I have a high miles (123k) but excellent condition CS in interlagos blue. Just spent 2.3k on SMG pump this month with CPC Performance Engineering. Phil does all my work (search forum for CPC...excellent reputation). Genuinely full service history with every single receipt retained since i purchased at around 85k miles and no expense spared (recent clutch and flywheel, michelin super sports, etc etc.). Just had fresh MOT at start of Jan. Car located in south bucks.

Not *looking* to sell, but the pump cost has made me start to question how much i love the car. I will listen to good offers.

[Krupp Stahl]

112k here. Bone stock SMG 2004 and no subframe issues as yet. It drives beautifully and looks perfect.

Mind you, I drive it like an old woman.

It's a keeper and I'd not sell her. There are loads out there, but I get the impression that the really good ones (properly serviced and not thrashed to hell) are getting fewer and fewer.

Take your time and find a good one!

Edited by Krupp Stahl on Friday 30th January 20:42

[Kananga]

Krupp Stahl said:

... There are loads out there, but I get the impression that the really good ones (properly serviced and not thrashed to hell) are getting fewer and fewer.

Take your time and find a good one!

+1. Took me ages to find mine and there are a lot of poor examples out there.

Currently debating whether to embark on a restoration project on an old Porsche so devating what to do with the M3!

[Big1air]

Hi, Just wondered if you had found a suitable car? I have a Carbon Black Coupe, SMG Box, every option, very clean and original, I've fitted recent Conti Sports all round, rear springs and trailing arm bushes, and it's always been run on the right oil. I've owned it for around two years driven it for around 12k. I turned down £7750 back in summer because I thought i would use it more.... I haven't, it's sitting in my gararge! Car is in Bicester, Oxon. You're welcome to come and have a look. Russ

[pti]

Kananga said:

Krupp Stahl said:

... There are loads out there, but I get the impression that the really good ones (properly serviced and not thrashed to hell) are getting fewer and fewer.

Take your time and find a good one!

+1. Took me ages to find mine and there are a lot of poor examples out there.

Currently debating whether to embark on a restoration project on an old Porsche so devating what to do with the M3!

Quite a car you have there Sir! Though as per my email I feel it may be outside my budget (which I've now included in the OP)

[pti]

M3CS said:

I have a high miles (123k) but excellent condition CS in interlagos blue. Just spent 2.3k on SMG pump this month with CPC Performance Engineering. Phil does all my work (search forum for CPC...excellent reputation). Genuinely full service history with every single receipt retained since i purchased at around 85k miles and no expense spared (recent clutch and flywheel, michelin super sports, etc etc.). Just had fresh MOT at start of Jan. Car located in south bucks.

Not *looking* to sell, but the pump cost has made me start to question how much i love the car. I will listen to good offers.

I'd be interested as to what you feel she's worth? Tried to PM but it's unavailable. Thanks